Wristwatch



July 5, 1966 P. MOINAT 3,

WRISTWATCH Filed Feb. 26, 1965 FIGA lNvgNToR. Plerre Molnar United States Patent 3,259,283 WRISTWATCH Pierre Moinat, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Omega, Louis Brandt & Frre S.A., Bienne, Switzerland Filed Feb. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 435,494 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Feb. 28, 1964, 2,531/ 64 6 Claims. (Cl. 2244) The present invention relates to a wristwatch comprising a wristlet or bracelet consisting of at least three rows of elements, this wristwatch being characterized in that the end element of each row is rigidly secured to the watch-case and that both end elements of the outer rows act as lugs, i.e. as attachments for fixing the wristlet to the watch case, a common fastening member connecting the elements secured to the watch-case with the elements of the wristlet, the whole being arranged in such a way that the wristlet extends up to the watch-case and gives the impression that the watch is merely laid down or placed on the wristlet, without said lugs extending beyond the width of the wristlet.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of said embodiment, one part of the wristlet being separated from the watch-case.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of same.

The wristwatch illustrated in the drawing includes a watch 1 provided with a case 2 and a wristlet or bracelet 3. The wristlet 3 consists of at least three rows of elements; in the particular case shown in the drawing, it has seven rows of elements, which are respectively denoted by the reference numerals 4 to 10; the elements of the outer rows 4 and 10 are wider than the others.

As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the end element of each row 4 to 10 is rigidly secured to the watch-case 2, to which it is preferably welded or soldered, and both end elements of the outer rows 4 and 10 act as lugs, i.e. as attachments for fixing the wristlet 3. Thus, the end ele ment 4' of the row 4 and the end element 10' of the row 10 have the shape and the function of the conventional lugs of a watch-case. The end elements 6 and 8 of the rows 6 and 8 are complete, in other words they have the same length as the other elements of the rows 6 and 8. On the contrary, the end elements 7' and 9' of the rows 5, 7 and 9 are incomplete and have a length which is smaller than that of the other elements of the rows 5, 7 and 9, due to the fact that the elements of the several rows 4 to 10 of the wristlet 3 are staggered. As concerns the width of the elements, it is important that the elements of the outer rows have an identical width, this width being not too small, in order that the lugs 4' and 10' can serve for attaching the wristlet to the watch. This connection is obtained by means of a common fastening member (not shown), which enter-s the bores 11 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. This fastening member may consist, for instance, of a pin driven into the bores 11, of a screw free 3,259,283 Patented July 5, 1966 1y engaging one of the lugs and the inner elements of the wristlet and screwed into the other lug, of a. spring bar, or even of two separate coaxial elements (pins, screws) each introduced through one of the lugs 4' and 10.

When the wristlet 3 is secured to the watch-case 2, as shown on the left portion of FIG. 1, it will be seen that it extends up to the case and gives an impression of continuity ensuring a beautiful aesthetic effect, since the lugs do not project from the width of the wristlet. When the wristlet is assembled with the watch-case, it seems as though the watch would be merely laid down or placed on the wristlet.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wristwatch comprising a Watch case, a wristlet including at least three rows of elements, the elements of one row being staggered relative to the elements of adjacent rows, the end element of each row being rigidly secured to the side of the watch-case below the top periphery thereof and both end elements of the outer rows acting as attachment lugs for fixing the wristlet to the Watch-case, a common fastening member connecting the end elements secured to the watch-case with the other elements of the wristlet in such a way that the wristlet extends up to but below the top periphery of the watch-case and gives the impression that the watch is merely laid down or placed on the wristlet, without said lugs extending beyond the Width of the wristlet.

2. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end element of each row of elements of the wristlet is integrally bonded to the Watch-case as by welding.

3. A Wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening member comprises a pin driven into bores of the elements of the wristlet.

4. A Wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening member comprises a screw-freely engaging one of the lugs and the elements of the inner rows of the wristlet and screwed into the other lug.

5. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening member comprises a bar held in the lugs.

6. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening member comprises two separate coaxial elements each introduced through one of the lugs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,450,136 9/ 1948 Hamilton 224-4 2,676,736 4/ 1954 Tourneau 2244 FOREIGN PATENTS 305,005 1/ 1955 Switzerland. 321,190 6/ 1957 Switzerland.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. I. E. OLDS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WRISTWATCH COMPRISING A WATCH CASE, A WRISTLET INCLUDING AT LEAST THREE ROWS OF ELEMENTS, THE ELEMENTS OF ONE ROW BEING STAGGERED RELATIVE TO THE ELEMENTS OF ADJACENT ROWS, THE END ELEMENT OF EACH ROW BEING RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE SIDE OF THE WATCH-BASE BELOW THE TOP PEPERIPHERAL THEREOF AND BOTH END ELEMENTS OF THE OUTER ROWS ACTING AS ATTACHMENT LUGS FOR FIXING THE WRISTLET TO THE WATCH-CASE, A COMMON FASTENING MEMBER CONNECTING THE END ELEMENTS SECURED TO THE WATCH-CASE WITH THE OTHER 